Snap acting electric switch



June 7, 1949;

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4. 1945 IN VEN TOR. Everard F. Kohl ATTORNEFiled June 4, 1945 June 7, 1949. E. F. KOHL. 2,472,333

SNAP-ACTING ELECTRIC SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. Everard F.Kohl ATTORNEY Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i2,412,333 SNAP ACTING ELECTRIC swrron Everard F. Kohl, Lakewood, OhioApplication June 4, 1945, Serial No. 591,555

' (c1. zoo-7o)- 20 Claims. 1

My invention relates to electrical switches and znore particularly toswitches of the snap acting In electrical switches oi. the snap actingtype, it has heretofore been the practice to utilize a portion of theblade of the switch or a comparetively thin spring arm as thecurrent-carrying member and consequently the current-carrying capacityof such switches is limited unless a comparatively large switch isemployed. Considerable difflculty has also been experienced in modifyingswitches of the ordinary snap acting type to provide a small, compactswitch of the multipole type.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved switchof the snap acting type having a comparatively high current-carryingcapacity that is small in size and in which the parts are easy tofabricate and assemble. My improved switch may be utilized to interruptand establish a single circuit, or to interrupt one circuit andestablish another circuit, or may be of the double pole, double throwtype in which a plurality of circuits are interrupted and a pluralityoi. circuits are established during each throw of the switch and theparts are arranged so that when the switch is in either of its twoalternative positions, the contacts are held in place by the tension ofa pair of balanced springs which are disposed in overlapping relation tooccupy a comparatively small space. Compact spring means are alsoprovided in my improved switch for returning the parts to their originalposition when the force upon the actuating means is released whichspring means also serve to permit overtravel of the actuating meanswithout injury to the switch parts.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved switchof the snap acting type that is small in size and which has acomparatively high current-carrying capacity.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved switch in whicha pair of contacts are movable into engagement with a pair of stationarycontacts with a snap motion and are maintained in seating engagementtherewith by resilient means which exert a balanced pressure upon themovable contacts and are arranged in overlapping relation to occupy acomparatively small space.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved switch of themultipole, double throw type. in which during each throw of the switchat least four movable contacts engage four stationary contacts and aremaintained in seating engagement therewith by resilient means whichexert the same or substantially the same pressure upon each of themovable contacts.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved switchin which compact spring means are provided to return the parts to theiroriginal position when pressure upon an actuating plunger is releasedand which spring means also function to permit overtravel of theactuating means without injury to the switch parts.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as thespecification proceeds.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a. plan view of my improved switch with parts broken away toshow underlying structure;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1 with partsshown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a central cross sectional view of the switch with the movableparts in a position different from that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the spring actuat ing means carried bythe shaft;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view 01 one of the actuating springs; and

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated in the drawings, the movable parts of the switch,areenclosed in a housing,

the walls oi. which are formed of a suitable electrically insulatingmaterial, such as a molded phenolic condensation product, and while thehousing may be of any desired shape and formed of any suitable numbervof parts, as illustrated in the drawings, it comprises an upper sectionI, a central section 2, and a lower section 3 which sections areprovided at opposite ends with aligned apertures through which sleeves 4and 5, respectively, extend to hold the parts together and provideopenings to receive suitable mounting bolts, not shown.

The central section extends outwardly beyond the upper and lowersections at each corner to form posts '8, I, 8 and '9, each of whichprovides a seat for upper and lower terminal bars 10 and II,respectively, and each post is provided with upper and lower aperturesto receive screws I2 and I 3, respectively, each of which extendsthrough a threaded aperture in one of the terminal bars and is adaptedto maintain a suitable conductor in place.

provided on its inner face with a stationary contact. As illustrated,bars l and II of post 6 are provided with stationary contacts l and I6,respectively, bars I and II of post I are provided with stationarycontacts I! and I8, respectively, bars l0 and H of corner post 8 areprovided with stationary contacts l9 and 20, respectively, and bars l0and II of corner post 9 are provided with stationary contacts 2| and 22,respectively, and while the contacts maybe composed of any suitableconductive material and be afilxed to the terminal bars in any desirablemanner, as illustrated, each contact is composed of a comparativelystrong member, such as steel, which is welded or otherwise aflixed tothe face adjacent the inner margin of its terminal bar and to which isbrazed another member having a comparatively high conductivity, such assilver.

Arranged within the chamber M are the movable parts of the switch whichare actuated by movement of a suitable plunger 23 slidably extendingthrough an aperture in the raised central portion 2% of upper section I.V

The movable parts of the switch include a floating shaft or carrier 25formed of a suitable electrical insulating material, such as a moldedphenolic condensation product, a pair of actuatingsprings 26 and 2'6, asupport 28 for one end of each spring, a resilient spring 29 which maybe welded or otherwise amxed, such as by a rivet 25m, to support 2t forreturning the parts to their original position when the force upon theplunger is released, and a block 36 formed of an insulating material,such as a phenolic condensation product, which is adapted to be engagedby the base 35 of the plunger 23.

Shaft or contact carrier 25 extends across the chamber id and itsopposite ends terminate in flanges 32 and 33. Shaft 25 is also providedwith collars 3d and 35 formed integral with the shaft and spaced equaldistances from the opposite ends and carries between flange 332 andcollar a pair or movable contacts, each of which has oppositely disposedportions 36 and 37 and 3d and Sid, respectively, and while thesecontacts may he carried by the shaft in any suitable manner, asillustrated in the drawings, two mating bars 4 6| to provide an apertureto receive shaft and upper plate 48 is provided with centrally disposednotches' in its side margins to receive tongues 52 and 53 on the lowerplate which extend through the notches and are bent over plate tomaintain the plates in position on the shaft.

Plates 48 and 49 are also provided with central openings and extendinginwardly from the plates are oppositely disposed tongues 54 and 55 andthe ends of support 28 are bent inwardly to form abutments which areprovided with oppositely extending tongues 56 and 51. Springs 26 and 21are similar in construction and each is provided with apertures adjacentthe opposite ends and as shown tongue 54 extends through an apertureadjacent one end of spring. 26 and tongue 55 extends through an apertureadjacent one end of spring 21. The opposite end of spring 26 is arrangedadjacent one of the inwardly extending abutments on support 28 andtongue 51 extends through the aperture adjacent that end and dd and M,see Figs. 4 and 5, are provided having oppositely disposed centralgrooves which provide an aperture to receive the shaft and the oppositeends of the mating bars are provided with apertures and are connectedtogether by a pin or rivet joining portions 36 and 3? of the movablecontact at one end and portions 38 and 39 of the movable contact at theopposite end. In a like manner, two mating bars 22 and 63 arrangedbetween collar 35 and flange 33 are provided with oppositely disposedcentral grooves at their central portion to form an aperture to receiveshaft 25 and with aligned apertures at their opposite ends, one of whichreceives a pin or rivet connecting two oppositely disposed portions 84and of a movable contact and the opposite end re ceiving a pin or rivetconnecting two oppositely disposed portions :36 and tl of anothermovable contact.

Means carried centrally by shaft 25 is provided to support one end ofeach of the springs 26 and 2'? so that upon movement of plunger 23 to apredetermined extent the movable contacts carried by the shaft may beforced into engagement with the stationary contacts carried by terminalbars it with a snap motion. For this purpose, a pair of plates 38 and 49are provided, the ends of each of which have oppositely disposed groovesand in alike manner the opposite end of spring 21 is arranged adjacentthe other inwardly extending abutment on support 28 and tongue 56extends through the aperture adjacent that end, and while the oppositeends of each spring 26 and 21 may be connected to the tongues in anydesirable manner, as illustrated, the apertures in the opposite ends ofeach of the springs are of suflicient size to permit one end of spring26 to engage and rock upon the abutments of the support opposite tongue51 and its opposite end to engage and rock upon abutments on plates 58and d9 opposite tongues as during actuation of the switch and in a likemanner, th apertures in spring 2? are of sumcient size to permit spring2? to engage and rock upon abutments on support 28 opposite tongue 56and to engage and rock upon abutments on plates 88 and d9 oppositetongues during actuation of. the switch.

The manner in which springs 26 and 27 rock upon their supports duringactuation of the switch is now well known in the art and is describedmore particularly in Patent No. 2,237,!05 granted to me on April 8,1941.

Springs 26 and 27 are preferably formed of thin fiat strips of resilientmetal of spring temper, such as steel, brass, bronze, a beryllium-copperalloy, or the like, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, andconsequently they may be readily formed of identical lengths and withapertures of the same size in the margins adjacent each end. Pressuremay 'then be applied to the opposite ends of each of the springs so thatone aperture in each spring receives one of the tongues on the supportand the other aperture in each spring receives tongues extendinginwardly from one side of plates 18 and t9 and since springs 26 and 21are arranged in similar relation with respect to support 28 and to.shaft 25, it will be apparent that a balanced relation exists by meansof which the upper portions 36, 38, M and d6 of the movable contacts maybe forced into engagement with stationary contacts 115, ll, 99 and 2|and will be held in such position by the force of springs 26 and 2'!while plunger 23 is held in the position shown in Fig. 3. It will alsooe noted that springs 26 and 21 are arranged in overlapping relationwith their arcuate-shaped portions opposed to each other so that acompact arrangement may be provided even when comparatively largesprings are utilized and that during actuation of the switch they rockupon their supports in opposite directions to maintain this compactarrangement irrespective of the position of the contacts.

To actuate the switch, pressure is applied to plunger 23 which placestension on spring 29 and rocks springs 28 and 21 on their supports, thuschanging'their direction of force until they reach a critical positionat which tim the upper portions 38, 38, 44 and 46 of the movablecontacts are forced into engagement with stationary contacts [5, I1, l9and 2! with a snap motion, thus providing a circuit between terminalbars III on posts 1 and 8 and terminal bars l8 on posts 6 and 9 as shownin Fig. 3 of the drawing.

when the switch is in its actuated position, it will be noted that thecurrent flows through bars 48 and 4| in its passage from terminal barsecured to post 8 to terminal bar I8 secured to post 1 and in a likemanner it flows through terminal bars 42 and 43 in its passage fromterminal bar In on post 9 to terminal bar 18 on post 5. These bars whileshort are comparatively thick and consequently my im roved switch isadapted to interrupt circuits transversed by comparatively highcurrents.

its upward movement carries support 28 with it, thus rocking springs 28and 21 upon the abutmentson support 28 and plates 48 and 49 adjacent thetongues, changing the direction of the force of springs 26 and 21 untilthey reach a critical position at which time the springs cooperate toforce portions 31, 39, 45 and 41 of the movable contacts into engagementwith station- Spring 29 is so constructed and arranged that whenpressure is applied to plunger 23, tension -is placed upon the springand consequently when the pressure upon plunger 23 is released, spring29 functions to return the movable parts of the switch to their originalposition. For this purpose, spring 29 is provided with legs 58 and 59which engage and slide upon the wall forming the bottom of chamber l4during actuation of the switch and to facilitate this sliding action,the legs are provided with arcuate-shaped portions 60 and 6| whichengage the bottom wall of the housing as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

To increase the resilience of spring 29 and to provide a compactstructure, legs 58 and 59 are of less width than the strips 62 and 63which constitute the side walls of the spring and leg 58 is oifset fromone edge of strip 62 and leg 59 is offset from the opposite edge ofstrip 53 so that the legs 58 and 59 will lie in overlapping relation toeach other and the combined width of the two legs, including the spacebetween them, is of the same width as side walls 62 and 63.

In view of the structure of spring 29 when pressure is first applied toplunger 23, the arcuate-shaped portions 68 and 6| of legs 58 and 59slide upon the bottom of the housing. During this pretravel, spring 29and support 28 are moved inwardly rocking springs 26 and 21 on theirabutments until they reach a critical position at which time springs 26and 21 cooperate to force shaft 25 and the movable contacts carried bythe shaft upwardly with a snap motion, thus forcin portions 36, 38, 44and 46 of the movable contacts into engagement with stationary contactsl1, l9, l5 and 2! respectively, and when the springs are in thisposition, they cooperate with each other to exert a balanced force tomaintain the upper portions of the movable contacts in en-" gagementwith the upper stationary contacts.

During this movement, it will be noted that additional tension is placedupon spring 29 and that the termini of legs 68 and 6| slide over thebottom wall on the housing to the position shown in Fig. 3. When thespring is in this position, however, thetermini of the legs still do notengage the side walls of the housing so that after the switch isactuated, plunger 23 may be compressed still further to provide alimited amount of overtravel without injury to the switch parts.

When the force upon plunger 23 is released, the tension upon spring 29is also released and plunger 23 is forced outwardly and spring 29 in arycontacts I8, 28, I6 and 22, respectively thereby establishing anelectrica1 circuit between terminals H on posts 1 and 8 and terminals IIon post 8 and 9. When the switch is. in this position as illustrated inFigs. 2 and 8, it will be noted that springs 26 and 21 cooperate tomaintain the movable contacts in firm seating engagement with thestationary contacts and that stationary contacts l8 and 20 are bridgedby terminal bars 40 and 4| and stationary contacts 16 and 22 are in alike manner bridged by terminal bars 42 and 43. The terminal bars 48,4|, 42 and 43 while short are comparatively thick and consequently myimproved switch although small will have a comparatively highcurrent-carrying capacity.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having a bottomwall, a pair of stationary contacts and a pair of movable contactsarranged in said housing, an actuator slidably mounted in said housing,means for throwing the movable contacts into engagement with thestationary contacts upon movement of said actuator, and resilientmeanscompressible upon movement of said actuator for returning the partsto their original position, said resilient means including side stripsand a pair of legs, each of which legs is offset from a different edgeof said side strips and said legs being arranged in overlapping relationto occupy a comparatively small space, and said legs being slidable uponsaid bottom wall during movement of said actuator.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having a bottomwall, a pair of stationary contacts and a pair of movable contactsarranged in said housing, an actuator slidably mounted in said housing,spring means for throwing the movable contacts into engagement with thestationary contacts upon movement of said actuator and resilient meanscompressible upon movement of said actuator for returning the parts totheir original position, said resilient means including side strips anda pair of legs, each of which legs is ofiset from a different edge ofsaid side strips and said legs being arranged in overlapping relation tooccupy a comparatively small space and being engageable with andslidable upon said bottom wall during movement of said actuator and saidresilient means being movable after the movable contacts have beenthrown into engagement with the stationary contacts to permit overtravelof the actuator.

3. An electrical switch comprising a housing having a central chamberbounded by oppositely disposed end walls, an actuator slidable throughone of said end walls, a pair of spaced stationary contacts arranged insaid chamber, a pair of movable contacts arranged in said chamber whichare electrically connected together, a pair of arcuate-shaped springsarranged in overlappin relation associated with said actuator and themovable contacts and being movable in response to the inward movement ofsaid actuator for throwing the movable contacts into engagement with thestationary contacts, and resilient means associated with said actuatorand arranged at an angle thereto which are of sufficient length toair/aces engage andslide along the wall opposite to that through whichthe actuator extends to store energy during the inward movement of theactuator to return the actuator to its original position when the forceupon the actuator is released.

4. An electrical switch comprising a housing having a central chamberbounded by side and end walls and one of said end walls being providedwith an aperture, a pair of stationary contacts arranged in saidchamber, a movable shaft, a pair of movable contacts mounted on saidshaft which are in electrical connection with each other, a platemounted on said shaft having oppositely disposed tongues, an actuatorslidable in said aperture and having oppositely extending abutmentsprovided with tongues, a pair of arcuate-shaped springs, each havingapertures arranged adjacent its opposite ends and said springs beingarranged in overlapping relation with one of the apertures in eachspring loosely receiving a tongue on said abutment and the otheraperture receiving a tongue on said plate, a pair of arms associatedwith said actuator and arranged along said walls, each of whichterminates in a resilient prong which prongs are inclined relative tosaid arms and which slide on the end wall of said chamber opposite tothat through which the actuator extends, and said actuator beingeffective in rocking said springs on the abutments adjacent said tonguesto force the movable contacts into engagement with the stationarycontacts with a snap motion and to slide said prongs upon the end wallof the housing which they engage to store energy to return the parts totheir original position. 7

5. An electrical switch comprising a housing having a central chamberbounded by side and end walls-and one of said end walls being providedwith an aperture, a pair of stationary contacts arranged in saidchamber, a movable shaft, a pair of movable contacts mounted on saidshaft which are in electrical connection with each other,

a plate mounted on said shaft having oppositely.

disposed tongues, an actuator slidable in said aperture and havingoppositely extending abutments provided with tongues, a pair ofarcuateshaped springs, each having apertures arranged adjacent itsopposite ends and said springs being arranged in overlapping relationwith one of the apertures in each spring loosely receiving a tongue onone of said abutments and the other aperture receiving a tongue on saidplate, a pair of arms associated with said actuator which terminate inresilient prongs that slide on the end wall of said chamber opposite tothat through which the actuator extends, said actuator being effectivein rocking said springs on the abutments adjacent said tongues to forcethe movable contacts into en gagement with the stationary contacts witha snap motion and to slide said prongs upon the ends of the housing tostore energy to return the parts to their original position, and saidprongs being spaced from the side walls when the movable contacts enga ethe stationary contacts to permit overtravel of the actuator.

6. An electrical switch comprising a housing having upper, central andlower hollow sections which cooperate in their assembled form to providea central chamber and the central section being extended outwardlybeyond the upper and lower sections at portions arranged opposite toeach other and the upper section being provided with an aperture, a pairof terminal bars, one of which rests on the central section at one ofthe outwardly disposed portions and extends into said chamber and theother of which rests on the other outwardly disposed portion and extendsinto said chamber and which is arranged in spaced relation to the otherbar, and said bars being held in engagement with the central section byone of the other sections, a stationary contact amxed to the end of eachbar which extends into said chamber, a pair of spaced movable contactsarranged in said chamber and being electrically connected to each other,a carrier for said movable contacts, an actuator, and a pair of springsarranged in said chamber which are disposed in overlapping arrangementwith respect to each other, each or said springs having one endassociated with said actuator and the other end associated with saidcarrier, the actuator being slidable through the aperture, in the uppersection into said chamber and said springs being responsive to the movement of said actuator for throwing the movable contacts into engagementwith the'stationary contacts.

7. An electrical switch comprising a housing composed of upper, centraland lower hollow sec tions-which cooperate in their assembled form toprovide a central chamber and the centrai section having portionsextending outwardly b-e-= yoncl the upper and lower sections at portionsarranged oppositely to each other and the upper section being providedwith an aperture, a pair of upper and a pair of lower terminal bars witheach terminal bar of the upper pair resting on one of the outwardlydisposed portions of the central section and extending toward each otherinto the central chamber and each being provided with a stationarycontact arranged in the central chamber which contacts are spaced fromeach other to provide a pair of upper stationary c0n= tacts and eachterminal bar of the lower pair being disposed against opposite outwardlydisposed portions on the central section with one end of each extendinginto the central chamber to form end portions within the central chamberwhich are spaced from each other and each of the lower bars beingprovided with a stationary contact arranged within the chamber toprovide a pair of spaced lower stationary contacts, and said terminalbars being held in place by the upper and lower sections, a pair ofspaced movable contacts arranged in said chamber which are electricallyconnected to each other, a floating carrier for said movable contacts,an actuator, and a pair of springs arranged in said chamber which aredisposed in overlapping arrangement with respect to each other and whichnormally maintain the-movable contacts in engagement with the lowerstationary contacts, each of said springs having one end associated withsaid actuator and the other end associated with said carrier, saidactuator being slidable through the aperture in the upper section intosaid chamber and said springs being responsive to the movement of saidactuator for throwing the movable contacts into engagement with theupper stationary contacts.

8. An electrical switch comprising a pair of spaced stationary contacts,a centrally disposed floating shaft, 2. second pair of spaced contactswhich are movable into and from engagement with the stationary contactsand the contacts of the second pair being arranged on opposite sides ofsaid shaft and being electrically connected together and supported bysaid shaft, an actuator, means movable with said actuator having anabutment. arranged on each side of said shaft, means secured to saidshaft and providing supports on opposite sides thereof, first and secondsimilar arcuate-shaped springs, the first arcuateshaped spring havingone of its ends loosely secured to the support at one side of said shaftand being rockably mounted thereon and its other end being looselysecured to the abutment arranged on the opposite side of said shaft andbeing rockably mounted thereon and the second arcuate-shaped springbeing loosely secured to the support extending from the opposite side ofsaid shaft and being rockably mounted thereon and having its oppositeend loosely secured to the other abutment and being rockably mountedthereon and the movement of said actuator being effective in rockingsaid springs upon said supports and said abutments to change thedirection of the force of said springs a sufficient extent when saidactuator has been moved a predetermined distance to cause a snap motionof said shaft to force the movable contacts into en agement with thestationary contacts and to maintain a substantially balanced resilientforce upon the movable contacts to maintain them in engagement with thestationary contacts when the actuator is held in one position.

9. An electrical switch comprising a pair of spaced stationary contacts,a centrally disposed floating shaft, a second pair of spaced contactswhich are movable into and from engagement with the stationary contactsand the contacts of the second pair being arranged on opposite sides ofsaid shaft and being electrically connected together and supported bysaid shaft, an actuator, means movable with said actuator having an armarranged on each side of said shaft, each of which arms has a tongueextending therefrom, means secured to said shaft having a supportarranged on opposite sides of the shaft, each of which has a tongueextending therefrom, first and second similar arcuate-shaped springs,each having openings at opposite ends thereof, the first arcuate-shapedspring being secured at one of its ends to the support at one side ofsaid shaft with the tongue of the support extending loosely through oneof its openings and its other end bein securedto the arm arranged on theopposite side of said shaft with the tongue of the arm extending looselythrough its other opening and the second arcuate-shaped spring beingsecured to the support extending from the opposite side of said shaftwith the tongue of the support extending loosely through one opening andthe opposite end of the second spring being secured to the other armwith the tongue on said arm extending loosely through its other opening,and

said arcuate-shaped springs having their bows extending in reversedirections and being disposed in overlapping relation to conserve spaceand the movement of said actuator being effective in moving said arms torock said springs on the supports adjacent said tongues to change thedirection of the force of said springs and to cause a snap motion ofsaid shaft when said actuator is moved a predetermined distance to forcethe movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts with asnap motion and to maintain a substantially balanced resilient forceupon the movable contacts to maintain them in engagement with thestationary contacts when the actuator is held in one position.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having abottom wall, a pair of stationary contacts arranged in said housing, acentrally disposed floating shaft, and asecond pair of spaced contactsarranged in said housing, said second pair of spaced contacts beingmovable into and from engagement with the stationary contacts and being,arranged on opposite sides of said shaft and being electricallyconnected together and supported by said shaft, an actuator slidablymounted in said housing, means movable with said actuator having armsarranged on opposite sides of said shaft, means secured to said shaftand providing supports arranged on opposite sides of the shaft, firstand second similar resilient members, one of said resilient membersbeing secured to the support arranged on one side of said shaft and tothe arm arranged on the opposite side of said shaft and the otherresilient member being secured to the support arranged on the oppositeside of said shaft and to the other arm to thereby maintain said shaltin a balanced relation, the movement of said actuator being effective inmoving said arms to change the direction of the force of said resilientmembers and to cause a snap motion of said shaft when the actuator ismoved a predetermined distance to force the'movable contacts intoengagement with the stationary contacts with a snap motion and tomaintain them in engagement with the stationary contacts when theactuator is held in one position, and resilient means associated withsaid actuator having portions disposed in overlapping relation andengaging the bottom of said housing which are flexed during the movementof said actuator to store energy therein which is efiective in returningthe parts to their original position when the force upon the actuator isreleased.

11. An electrical switch comprising a pair of spaced upper stationarycontacts, a pair of spaced lower stationary contacts, a centrallydisposed fioating shaft, a third pair of spaced contacts which aremovable from engagement with the lower spaced contacts into engagementwith the upper spaced contacts and from engagement with the upper spacedcontacts into engagement with the lower spaced contacts, the third pairof spaced contacts being arranged on opposite sides of said shaft andbeing electrically connected together and supported by said shaft, anactuator, means movable with said actuator and having an abutmentarranged on each side of said shaft, means secured to said shaft andproviding supports on the opposite sides thereof, first and secondsimilar arcuate-shaped springs, the first arcuate-shaped spring havingone of its ends loosely secured to the support at one side of said shaftand being rockably mounted thereon and its other end being looselysecured to the abutment arranged on the opposite side of said shaft andbeing rockably mounted thereon and the second arcuate-shaped springbeing rockably secured to the support extending from the opposite sideof said shaft and beingrockably mounted thereon and having its oppositeend loosely secured to the other abutment and being rockably mountedthereon, said springs being normally effective in maintaining themovable contacts in engagement with the lower pair of spaced contactsand the movement of said actuator being effective in rocking saidsprings upon said supports and said arms to change the direction of theforce of said springs a sufficient extent when said actuator has beenmoved a predetermined distance to cause snap motion of said shaft toforce the movable contacts into engagement with the upper pair ofstationary contacts and to maintain a substantially balanced resilientforce upon the movable contacts ill, to maintain them in engagement withthe upper stationary contacts when the actuator is held in its lowerposition,

12. An electrical switch comprising two pairs of upper spaced contactsin which the contacts of each pair are spaced from each other, two pairsof lower spaced contacts in which the cnntacts of each pair are spacedfrom each other, a floating carrier provided with o first oilelectrically connected spaced contacts adjacent one end and a second ofelcctriy connected spaced contacts adjacent the other end which areelectrically pair, an actuator, a pair of new springs, one end of eachof which isconnected to said carrier and the other end of each oi wch ismovable with said actuator, said sprs om normally effective in saidcarrier in position to maintain one pair oi" the contacts carriedthereby in engagement with one of. the lower pairs oi contacts and theother pair oi con tacts carried thereby in easement with the other pairof lower contacts, said springs being responsive to the moveent oi saidactuator for moving said carrier with a snap motion to force one pair ofthe contacts carried thereby into engagement with one pair of the uppercontacts to establish an electrical circuit therebetween and to forcethe other pair oi contacts carried thereby into engagement with theother pair of spaced upper contacts to establish an electrical circuittherebetween.

13. An electrical switch f. *r a p of spaced stationary contacts, a pairof spaced movable contacts electrically connected together, a centrallydisposed movable carrier on ch said movable contacts are mounted, aplate mounted on said carrier having oppositely ex tending tonguesarranged on opposite sides of said carrier with abutments ged on theopposite sides of each of said tongues, an actuator,

u irem the the oneness a support movable in response to the movement ofsaid actuator, said support having a tongue arranged on one side of saidcarrier with abutments adjacent the opposite sides of said tongue and a.tongue arranged on the opposite side of said carrier with abutmentssides thereof, first and second or arcuateshaped springs veach havingapertures at its end margins, said springs being arranged in overlappingrelation with their bows win opposite directions, the first arcuatespedspring having one end rocka'blymounted on one of the abutments on on theplate extending loosely through the aperture in the opening at one 0!its end margins and the other end 01 said spring being rockably mountedon the support arranged on the opposite side of the carrier with thetongue on the support extending loosely through the other opening in thespring, and the second spring having one end rockably mounted on theother abut: ment on said plate with one oi the marginal openings in thespring receiving the other tongue on said plate and its opposite endbeing rockably mounted on the other support with the tongue of thatsupport extending loosely through its other marginal opening, and saidsprings being rockable on said abutments in response tothe movement ofsaid actuator and support to change the direction of the force of saidsprings to a sufllcient extent to move said carrier with a snap motionto force the movable contacts into engagement with. the stationarycontacts.

14. An electrical switch comprising a housing said plate with the tonguearranged on opposite in overlapping having a central chamber bounded byoppositely disposed top and bottom walls and oppositely disposed sidewalls, a pair of spaced stationary contacts arranged in said chamberadjacent the top wall, a pair of movable contacts arranged in saidchamber below the stationary contacts and being electrically connectedtogether, a carrier for said movable contacts. an actuator slidablethrough the top wall and having oppositely disposed supports elatedtherewith, a pair of spring means ed in overlapping relation with oneend of each spring means connected to said carrier and its opposite endconnected to one of said supports, and second spring means associatedtvith said actuator having oppositely disposed. a n used along am iteside walls of the er chamber which terminate in free ends inclined withrespect to the side arms with the free ends or the arms being arrangedin overlapping relation; said being of sumcient length to engage thebottom wall and said actuator being ective during inward movement tomove said carrier with a snap motion to force the movable contacts intoengagement with the stationary contacts and to slide the free ends ofsaid arms along the bot wall to store energy therein to return the partsto their original position when the force upon the actuator is released.

15. Anelectrical switch comprising a housing having a central chamberbounded by oppositely disposed top and bottom walls and oppositelydisposed side walls, a pair of spaced stationary contacts arranged insaid chamber adjacent the top ll, a pair of movable contacts arranged insaid to: ber below the stationary contacts and being electricallyconnected together, a carrier for said movable contacts, an actuatorslidable h the top wall having oppositely disposed supports associatedtherewith, a pair of spring means arranged in overlapping relation withone end of each spring means connected to said carrier and its oppositeend connected to one of said supports, and second spring meansassociated with said actuator having oppositely disposed arms arrangedalong opposite side walls and each of said arms terminating in a prongof less width than the arm to which it is connected, and said prongsbeing inclined at an angle to the arm to which it is connected and beingof sufllcient length to engage said bottom wall, said actuator beingefiective during inward movement to move said carrier with a. snapmotion to force the movable contacts into engagement with the stationarycontacts and to slide said prongs along the bottom wall to store energytherein during the inward movement of said actuator to return the partsto their original position, and said prongs being spaced from the sidewalls when the movable contacts engage the stationary contacts to permitovertravel of said actuator.

16. Apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having abottom wall, a stationary contact and'a. movable contact arranged insaid housing, an actuator slidably mounted in said housing, resilientmeans associated with said actuator and the movable contact for causingengagement of the movable contact with the stationary contact uponmovement of said actuator, and second resilient means compressible uponmovement of said actuator for returning the parts to their originalposition, said second resilient means including side strips and apair'of legs, each of which legs is offset from a difierent edge of saidside strip and said legs being arranged relation to occupy acomparatively 7 carrier which is opposite to the small space, and saidlegs being slidable upon said bottom wall during movement of saidactuator.

17. An electrical switch comprising a. pair of spaced stationarycontacts, a floating carrier having first and second supports arrangedon opposite sides thereof, a second pair of spaced contacts movable intoand from engagement with the sta-' tionary contacts and the contacts ofthe second pair being arranged on opposite sides of said carrier andbeing electrically connected together and supported by said carrier, anactuator, means movable with said actuator having a first abutmentspaced from said carrier and arranged on that side of said carrier whichis opposite to the first support and a second abutment spaced from saidcarrier and arranged on that side of said second support, first andsecond resilient members arranged in overlapping relation, thev firstresilient member being connected to the first support on said carrierand to the first abutment and the second resilient member being securedto the second support on said carrier and the second abutment to therebymaintain said carrier in a balanced state, and the movement of saidactuator being eflective in changing the direction of the force of saidresilient members to cause a snap motion of said carrier when saidactuator is moved a predetermined distance to force the movable contactsinto engagement with the stationary contacts with a snap motion.

18. An electrical switch com-prising a, pair of spaced stationarycontacts, a fioatin-g carrier having first and second supports arrangedon opposite sides thereof, a second pair of spaced contacts movable intoand from engagement with the stationary contacts and the contacts of thesecond pair being arranged on opposite sides of said carrier and beingelectrically connected together and supported by said carrier, anactuator, means movable with said actuator having a first abutmentspaced from said carrier and arranged on that side of the carrier whichis opposite to the first support and a second abutment spaced from saidcarrier and arranged on the side of the carrier which is opposite to thesecond support, first and second arcuate-shaped springs arranged inoverlapping relation, the first spring having one end connected to thefirst support on said carrier and its other end to the first abutmentand the second spring having one end connected to the second support onsaid carrier and its other end connected to the second abutment tothereby maintain said carrier in a balanced state, and the movement ofsaid actuator being effective in changing the direction of-the force ofsaid resilient members to cause a snap motion of said carrier when saidactuator is moved a, predetermined distance to force the movablecontacts into engagement with the stationary contacts with a snapmotion.

19. An electrical switch comprising a pair of spaced stationarycontacts, a floating carrier having first and second supports arrangedon opposite sides thereof, a second pair of spaced contacts movable intoand from engagement with the stationary contacts, and the contacts ofthe second pair being arranged on opposite sides of said carrier andbeing electrically connected together and s pported by said carrier, anactuator, means movable with said actuator having a first abutmentspaced from said carrier and arranged on that side of the carrier whichis opposite to the first support and a second abutment spaced from saidcarrier and arranged on that side of the carrier which is opposite tothe second support, first and second arcuate-shaped springs arranged inoverlapping relation with the bow of the first spring extending in areverse direction to the box of the second spring to conserve space, thefirst spring having one end connected to the first support on saidcarrier and its other end to the first abutment and the second springhaving one end connected to the second support on said carrier and itsother end connected to the second abutment to thereby maintain saidcarrier in a balanced state, and the movement of said actuator beingeffective in changing the direction of the force of said resilientmembers to cause a snap motion of said carrier when said actuator ismoved a predetermined distance to force the movable contacts intoengagement with the stationary contacts.

20. An electrical switch comprising a pair of spaced stationarycontacts, a floating carrier, a conductor supported by said shaft andhaving arms extending in opposite directions therefrom, a movablecontact connected to each arm of said conductor, said carrier having afirst support on one side thereof and a second support on the oppositeside thereof, an actuator, means movable with said actuator having afirst abutment spaced from said carrier and arranged on that side ofsaid carrier which is opposite to said first support and a secondabutment arranged on that side of said carrier which is opposite to saidsecond support, first and second arcuate-shaped springs arranged inoverlapping relation with the bow of the first spring extending in adirection reverse to the bow of the second spring to conserve space, andthe first spring having one end connected to said first support and itsother end connected to said first abutment and the second spring havingone .end connected to said second support and its other end connected tosaid second abutment to thereby maintain said carrier in a balancedstate, and the movement of said actuator being effective in changing thedirection of the force of said springs to cause a snap motion of saidcarrier when said actuator is moved a predetermined distance to forcethe movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts.

EVERARD F. KOHL.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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